Drivers in France caught holding a mobile phone behind the wheel could face a licence suspension of up to six months, even if they have committed no other traffic offence. The French Interior Ministry has urged prefects across the country to apply the tougher administrative sanction, which goes well beyond the existing €135 fine and three-point penalty.

While prefects in around twenty departments – including the Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Pas-de-Calais, Charente-Maritime, and Yonne – had already begun suspending licences without waiting for a judge’s ruling, the Ministry of the Interior issued a formal directive on Tuesday, 29th September urging all territorial prefects to adopt the measure.

Immediate administrative sanctions

Under the French Highway Code, holding a mobile phone while driving already carries a standard fixed fine of €135 and a three-point deduction on the driving licence. However, prefects now have the authority to suspend a driver’s licence for up to six months administratively, without waiting for judicial proceedings. This administrative suspension can be applied even if the driver has not committed a secondary offence, such as speeding.

How the suspension works

Unlike roadside withdrawals carried out directly by law enforcement officers during a traffic stop, an administrative suspension is officially decided and notified by the prefect. Affected drivers are given the opportunity to present their observations through a formal adversarial procedure, and the duration of the suspension is determined by prefectural services, taking into account the specific circumstances of the infraction.

Since 1st July 2015, the Highway Code has also strictly prohibited driving while wearing any audio device in the ear, such as earphones, headsets, or earpieces.

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Photo Credit: Pexels – Acharaporn Kamornboonyarush